Massachusetts fishing seasons

38 species profiles in our database list Massachusetts waters among their fisheries — including Pumpkinseed, Summer Flounder, Striped Bass, Bluefin Tuna. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in Massachusetts

Months when the largest share of Massachusetts's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

Massachusetts fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in Massachusetts

Species	Season
Banded Killifish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Blacknose Dace	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Common Shiner	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Fallfish	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Mummichog	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Pumpkinseed	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Sheepshead Minnow	Often most active in warm months; check local rules

Saltwater & brackish species in Massachusetts

Species	Season
American Plaice	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Atlantic Bonito	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Atlantic Halibut	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Atlantic Mackerel	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug
Atlantic Wolffish	Varies by region and regulation
Blackfin Tuna	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Blue Ling	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Blue Shark	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Bluefin Tuna	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Cowcod	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Cusk	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
False Albacore	Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Haddock	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Longtail Tuna	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Ocean Pout	Varies by region and regulation
Pacific Bonito	Late Spring–Fall in many regions; varies by current/temperature
Pacific Chub Mackerel	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Pacific Cod	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Pollock	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Red Hake	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Sablefish	Often year-round; weather windows and depth matter
Sea Raven	Varies by region and regulation
Silver Hake	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Southern Bluefin Tuna	Highly migratory; availability varies by current, temperature, and regulation
Spotted Wolffish	Varies by region and regulation
Striped Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Summer Flounder	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
White Hake	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Winter Flounder	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Witch Flounder	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules
Yellowtail Flounder	Depth and open seasons vary; check current regional rules

Where to fish in Massachusetts

• Georges Bank (MA)
• Georges Bank (US)
• Gulf of Maine
• Northeast US offshore (MA/NJ)

Fishing in the Northeast

Maine · New Hampshire · Vermont · Rhode Island · Connecticut · New York · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Maryland · Delaware · District of Columbia